Wallows released their second studio album, their first since their popular 2019 album release, Nothing Happens. Tell Me That It’s Over was released on March 25, 2022 and was well received across different platforms. The three members, Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston went a more experimental route than their previous album, appealing to many different kinds of listeners. This is my personal opinion on the ten songs released.
- “Hard to Believe” 8/10
This was the first song on the album and set the precedence for what was to come. I personally enjoyed the sound and rhythm of this song. It sounded somewhat nostalgic with the singers’ soft-spoken voice paired with the percussion and cool bass. It made me want to dance and had a catchy feel to it while still feeling unique and fun.
- “I Don’t Want to Talk” 6/10
This was the first single released from this album back in September of 2021. It somewhat reminded me of their first album, Nothing Happens (2019), but with interesting instruments in the background, like a questionable harmonica. Overall, the song is good but the instruments feel too distracting.
- “Especially You” 4/10
Something about this one was a little more off putting—whether that be the (again) distracting techno beats in the background or the seemingly constant shift in beat and tempo. It reminded me of the 2020 EP, “Virtual Aerobics” that I was personally not very interested in.
- “At the End of the Day” 9/10
This one reminded me of one of my favorite Wallows songs, “1980s Horror Film II”. The song feels raw and intimate with the slower tempo matched with their signature background beat. This feels more true to what Wallows is in my mind, and is definitely one of my favorites off the album.
- “Marvelous” 2/10
The fifth song off this album felt very unique and experimental. There were very blunt beats and changes in tempo throughout the entire song that felt random and scattered to me. I was personally not a fan of this one.
- “Permanent Price” 7/10
I really enjoyed the harmonies and softness of this song. It started off slow but grew on me as the song proceeded. It is definitely not my favorite but I found it to be a light and refreshing song from them.
- “Missing Out” 9/10
I particularly enjoyed this song. This also felt nostalgic for me, the song starting off quieter and softer before transitioning into a more intense chorus. It reminded me of early Jonas Brothers, which is a compliment, and made me want to dance along to the beat. The exaggerated end with the different instruments was also a nice touch.
- “Hurts Me” 3/10
This song felt very chaotic to me with the random mix of different beats, instruments, and alternating singers in the chorus. I could see what they were going for, but I unfortunately did not find it to be successful.
- “That’s What I Get” 5/10
This song was hard to get an opinion on. There were a lot of different sounds, notably at the end, that were indecipherable but the beginning was alright. It was an interesting mix and I feel very neutral about it.
- “Guitar Romantic Search Adventure” 9/10
The final song on the album was much slower than I expected, using acoustic guitar and a slow pace that transitions into a soft beat in the background. I enjoyed the more simplistic nature of this song rather than some of the previous songs on the album. The instruments were clear and there were no unnecessary sounds, giving their voices and lyrics more attention.
In my humble opinion, Tell Me That It’s Over had some hits and a few misses. The sound was overall very experimental with hints from their first album, which means there is likely something for everybody.